Method and apparatus for displaying picture of virtual environment, device, and medium

ABSTRACT

This application discloses a method and apparatus for displaying a picture of a virtual environment, a device, and a medium, and relates to the field of virtual environments. The method includes: displaying a first virtual environment picture, the first virtual environment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtual environment by using a first observation position as an observation center, the first virtual environment picture displaying a master virtual character at a first position in the virtual environment, and the first observation position being determined according to the first position; displaying a second virtual environment picture, the second virtual environment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtual environment by using a second observation position as the observation center, the second virtual environment picture displaying the master virtual character at a second position and a target virtual character at a third position, and the second observation position being determined according to the second position; and displaying a third virtual environment picture in response to that the second virtual environment picture displays the target virtual character, the third virtual environment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtual environment by using a third observation position as the observation center, the third virtual environment picture displaying the master virtual character at the second position and the target virtual character at the third position, and the third observation position being determined according to the second position and the third position. The method may display a virtual character more completely on a virtual environment picture.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority toInternational PCT Application No. PCT/CN2021/115367, filed on Aug. 30,2021, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.202011022758.7, filed on Sep. 25, 2020, both entitled “METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING PICTURE OF VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT, DEVICE, ANDMEDIUM”. The above applications are herein incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Embodiments of this application relate to the field of computer virtualenvironments, and in particular, to a method and apparatus fordisplaying a picture of a virtual environment, a device, and a medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A battle game is a game in which a plurality of user accounts compete ina common scene. For example, the battle game may be a multiplayer onlinebattle arena (MOBA) game.

In a typical MOBA game, a virtual environment picture displayed on aclient may be a picture obtained by observing a virtual environmentusing a master virtual character as an observation center. That is, acamera is bound to a position of the master virtual character, thecamera moves along with movement of the position of the master virtualcharacter, so that the camera is always located above a side surface ofthe master virtual character and photographs a virtual environmentpicture obtained through observation from the perspective of athird-person viewing angle of the master virtual character.

According to the foregoing method, when an enemy virtual character justenters a field of view of the master virtual character, the enemyvirtual character is located at an edge of the field of view, so thatpicture information such as a position, a state, and an action of theenemy virtual character cannot be completely displayed in the virtualenvironment picture.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this application provide a method and apparatus fordisplaying a picture of a virtual environment, a device, and a medium,which can display an enemy virtual character more completely on avirtual environment picture. The technical solutions are as follows:

According to an aspect, a method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment is provided, performed by a computer device, the methodincluding:

displaying a first virtual environment picture, the first virtualenvironment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtualenvironment by using a first observation position as an observationcenter, the first virtual environment picture displaying a mastervirtual character at a first position in the virtual environment, andthe first observation position being determined according to the firstposition;

displaying a second virtual environment picture, the second virtualenvironment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtualenvironment by using a second observation position as the observationcenter, the second virtual environment picture displaying the mastervirtual character at a second position and a target virtual character ata third position in the virtual environment, and the second observationposition being determined according to the second position; and

displaying a third virtual environment picture in response to that thesecond virtual environment picture displays the target virtualcharacter, the third virtual environment picture being a pictureobtained by observing the virtual environment by using a thirdobservation position as the observation center, the third virtualenvironment picture displaying the master virtual character at thesecond position and the target virtual character at the third positionin the virtual environment, and the third observation position beingdetermined according to the second position and the third position.

According to another aspect, an apparatus for displaying a picture of avirtual environment is provided, including:

a display module, configured to display a first virtual environmentpicture, the first virtual environment picture being a picture obtainedby observing the virtual environment by using a first observationposition as an observation center, the first virtual environment picturedisplaying a master virtual character at a first position in the virtualenvironment, and the first observation position being determinedaccording to the first position;

the display module being further configured to display a second virtualenvironment picture, the second virtual environment picture being apicture obtained by observing the virtual environment by using a secondobservation position as the observation center, the second virtualenvironment picture displaying the master virtual character at a secondposition and a target virtual character at a third position in thevirtual environment, and the second observation position beingdetermined according to the second position; and

the display module being further configured to display a third virtualenvironment picture in response to that the second virtual environmentpicture displays the target virtual character, the third virtualenvironment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtualenvironment by using a third observation position as the observationcenter, the third virtual environment picture displaying the mastervirtual character at the second position and the target virtualcharacter at the third position in the virtual environment, and thethird observation position being determined according to the secondposition and the third position.

According to another aspect, a computer device is provided, including aprocessor and a memory, the memory storing at least one instruction, atleast one program, a code set, or an instruction set, the at least oneinstruction, the at least one program, the code set, or the instructionset being loaded and executed by the processor to implement the methodfor displaying a picture of a virtual environment according to theforegoing aspect

According to another aspect, a computer-readable storage medium isprovided, storing at least one instruction, at least one program, a codeset, or an instruction set, the at least one instruction, the at leastone program, the code set, or the instruction set being loaded andexecuted by a processor to implement the method for displaying a pictureof a virtual environment according to the foregoing aspect.

According to another aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa computer program product or a computer program, the computer programproduct or the computer program including computer instructions, thecomputer instructions being stored in a computer-readable storagemedium. A processor of a computer device reads the computer instructionsfrom the computer-readable storage medium, and executes the computerinstructions to cause the computer device to perform the method fordisplaying a picture of a virtual environment provided in the foregoingoptional implementations.

The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this applicationproduce at least the following beneficial effects:

When an enemy virtual character appears on a virtual environmentpicture, an observation center of the virtual environment picture isredetermined according to positions of the enemy virtual character and amaster virtual character, and a virtual environment picture is obtainedaccording to the new observation center, so that the master virtualcharacter and the enemy virtual character may be completely displayed inthe virtual environment picture, thereby improving the displaycompleteness of the enemy virtual character in the virtual environmentpicture, and optimizing a display manner of a battle picture by aclient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural block diagram of a computer system according toan exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a method flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to an exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of virtual environment pictures of amethod for displaying a picture of a virtual environment according toanother exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a method flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to another exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a target region according to anotherexemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a method flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to another exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a camera model of a method fordisplaying a picture of a virtual environment according to anotherexemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a method flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to another exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a dogfight region of a method fordisplaying a picture of a virtual environment according to anotherexemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a method flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to another exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a method flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to another exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an apparatus for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to another exemplary embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a terminal according to another exemplaryembodiment of this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of thisapplication clearer, the following further describes implementations ofthis application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, terms involved in the embodiments of this application are brieflyintroduced:

Virtual environment: a virtual environment displayed (or provided) by anapplication program when being run on a terminal. The virtualenvironment may be a simulated environment of a real world, or may be asemi-simulated semi-fictional three-dimensional environment, or may bean entirely fictional three-dimensional environment. The virtualenvironment may be any one of a two-dimensional virtual environment, a2.5-dimensional virtual environment, and a three-dimensional virtualenvironment. For example, the virtual environment may be further usedfor a virtual environment battle between at least two virtualcharacters, and there may be virtual resources available to the at leasttwo virtual characters in the virtual environment. For another example,the virtual environment includes a lower left corner region and an upperright corner region that are symmetrical. Virtual characters on twoopposing sides occupy the regions respectively, and the objective ofeach side is to destroy a target building/fort/base/crystal deep in theopponent's region to win.

Virtual character: a movable object in the virtual environment. Themovable object may be at least one of a virtual person, a virtualanimal, and a cartoon person. For example, when the virtual environmentis a three-dimensional virtual environment, the virtual character may bea three-dimensional model. Each virtual character has a shape and avolume in the three-dimensional virtual environment, and occupies somespace in the three-dimensional virtual environment. For another example,the virtual character maybe a three-dimensional character constructedbased on three-dimensional human skeleton technology. The virtualcharacter may wear different skins to implement different appearances.In some embodiments, the virtual character may be alternativelyimplemented by using a 2.5-dimensional model or a two-dimensional model.This is not limited in the embodiments of this disclosure.

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA): different virtual teams on atleast two opposing camps occupy respective map regions in the virtualenvironment, and compete against each other using specific victoryconditions as goals. The victory conditions may include, but are notlimited to at least one of occupying forts or destroying forts of theopposing camps, killing virtual characters in the opposing camps,ensuring own survivals in a specified scenario and time, seizing aspecific resource, and outscoring the opponent within a specified time.The battle arena game may take place in rounds. The same map ordifferent maps may be used in different rounds of the battle arena game.Each virtual team may include one or more virtual characters, forexample, 1 virtual character, 2 virtual characters, 3 virtualcharacters, or 5 virtual characters.

MOBA game: a game in which several forts are provided in a virtualenvironment, and users on different camps control virtual characters tobattle in the virtual environment, and occupy or destroy forts of theopposing camp. For example, in the MOBA game, the users may be dividedinto two opposing camps. The virtual characters controlled by the usersare scattered in the virtual environment to compete against each other,and a victory condition is to destroy or occupy all enemy forts. TheMOBA game takes place in rounds. A duration of a round of the MOBA gameis from a time point at which the game starts to a time point at whichthe victory condition is met.

User interface (UI) control: any visual control or element that can beseen in a UI of an application program, for example, a control such as apicture, an input box, a text box, a button, or a label. Some UIcontrols respond to an operation of a user. For example, a movementcontrol is configured to control a master virtual character to move. TheUI controls involved in the embodiments of this disclosure include, butare not limited to: a movement control.

FIG. 1 is a structural block diagram of a computer system according toan exemplary embodiment of this application. The computer system 100includes a first terminal 110, a server 120, and a second terminal 130.

A client 111 supporting a virtual environment is installed and run onthe first terminal 110, and the client 111 may be a multiplayer onlinebattle program. When the first terminal runs the client 111, a UI of theclient 111 is displayed on a screen of the first terminal 110. Theclient may be any one of a military simulation program, an escapeshooting game, a virtual reality (VR) application program, an augmentedreality (AR) program, a three-dimensional map program, a VR game, an ARgame, a first-person shooting (FPS) game, a third-person shooting (TPS)game, a MOBA game, and a simulation game (SLG). In this embodiment, anexample in which the client is a MOBA game is used for description. Thefirst terminal 110 may be a terminal used by a first user 112. The firstuser 112 uses the first terminal 110 to control a first virtualcharacter located in the virtual environment to perform activities, andthe first virtual character may be referred to as a master virtualcharacter of the first user 112. The activities of the first virtualcharacter may include, but are not limited to: at least one of adjustingbody postures, crawling, walking, running, riding, flying, jumping,driving, picking, shooting, attacking, and throwing. For example, thefirst virtual character is a first virtual person, such as a simulatedperson character or a cartoon person character.

A client 131 supporting the virtual environment is installed and run onthe second terminal 130, and the client 131 may be a multiplayer onlinebattle program. When the second terminal 130 runs the client 131, a UIof the client 131 is displayed on a screen of the second terminal 130.The client may be any one of a military simulation program, an escapeshooting game, a VR application program, an AR program, athree-dimensional map program, a VR game, an AR game, an FPS game, a TPSgame, a MOBA game, and an SLG. In this embodiment, an example in which aclient is a MOBA game is used for description. The second terminal 130is a terminal used by a second user 113. The second user 113 uses thesecond terminal 130 to control a second virtual character located in thevirtual environment to perform activities, and the second virtualcharacter may be referred to as a master virtual character of the seconduser 113. For example, the second virtual character is a second virtualperson, such as a simulated person character or a cartoon personcharacter.

In some implementations, the first virtual person and the second virtualperson may be located in the same virtual environment. For example, thefirst virtual person and the second virtual person may belong to thesame camp, the same team, or the same organization, have a friendrelationship, or have a temporary communication permission. In someimplementations, the first virtual person and the second virtual personmay belong to different camps, different teams, different organizations,or may have a hostile relationship.

In some implementations, the client installed on the first terminal 110is the same as the client installed on the second terminal 130, or theclients installed on the two terminals are clients of the same type ofdifferent operating system platforms (Android system or iOS system). Thefirst terminal 110 may generally refer to one of a plurality ofterminals, and the second terminal 130 may generally refer to anotherone of a plurality of terminals. In this embodiment, only the firstterminal 110 and the second terminal 130 are used as an example fordescription. The first terminal 110 and the second terminal 130 may beof the same or different device types. The device type includes and isnot limited to at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, ane-book reader, an MP3 player, an MP4 player, a laptop portable computer,and a desktop computer.

FIG. 1 shows only two terminals. However, a plurality of other terminals140 may access the server cluster 120 in different embodiments. In someimplementations, one or more terminals 140 may be terminalscorresponding to a developer. A developing and editing platform for theclient to support the virtual environment may be installed on theterminal 140. The developer may edit and update the client on theterminal 140 and transmit an updated client installation package to theserver 120 by using a wired or wireless network. The first terminal 110and the second terminal 130 may download the client installation packagefrom the server 120 to update the client.

The first terminal 110, the second terminal 130, and the anotherterminal 140 may be connected to the server 120 through a wirelessnetwork or a wired network.

The server 120 includes at least one of one server, a plurality ofservers, a cloud computing platform, and a virtualization center. Theserver 120 may be configured to provide a backend service for a clientsupporting a three-dimensional virtual environment. In someimplementations, the server 120 takes on primary computing work, and theterminals take on secondary computing work; alternatively, the server120 takes on secondary computing work, and the terminals take on primarycomputing work; alternatively, collaborative computing is performed byusing a distributed computing architecture between the server 120 andthe terminals.

In a schematic example, the server 120 includes a processor 122, a useraccount database 123, a battle service module 124, and a user-orientedinput/output (I/O) interface 125. The processor 122 may be configured toload instructions stored in the server 121, and process data in the useraccount database 123 and the battle service module 124. The user accountdatabase 123 is configured to store data of user accounts used by thefirst terminal 110, the second terminal 130, and/or the another terminal140, for example, profile pictures of the user accounts, nicknames ofthe user accounts, combat power indices of the user accounts, andservice regions where the user accounts are located. The battle servicemodule 124 may be configured to provide a plurality of battle rooms forusers to compete, such as a 1V1 battle room, a 3V3 battle room, and a5V5 battle room. The user-oriented I/O interface 125 may be configuredto establish communication with the first terminal 110 and/or the secondterminal 130 by using a wireless network or wired network to exchangedata.

The method for displaying a picture of a virtual environment provided inthe embodiments of this disclosure is described in combination with thedescription of the virtual environment and the description of animplementation environment, and description is made by using an examplein which an execution entity of the method is a client run on theterminal shown in FIG. 1. The terminal runs an application program, andthe application program is a program supporting a virtual environment.For example, the method may be alternatively performed by anothercomputer device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.The method may be performed by a client run on any terminal in FIG. 1,and the client is a client supporting a virtual environment. The methodincludes the following steps:

Step 201: Display a first virtual environment picture, the first virtualenvironment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtualenvironment by using a first observation position as an observationcenter, the first virtual environment picture displaying a mastervirtual character at a first position in the virtual environment, andthe first observation position being determined according to the firstposition.

For example, the virtual environment picture may be a two-dimensionalpicture that is obtained by performing picture capturing on athree-dimensional virtual environment and displayed on the client. Forexample, a shape of the virtual environment picture may be determinedaccording to a shape of a display screen of the terminal or isdetermined according to a shape of a UI of the client. For example, thedisplay screen of the terminal may be rectangular, the virtualenvironment picture may also be displayed as a rectangular picture.

The first virtual environment picture may be a virtual environmentpicture obtained by using the first observation position in the virtualenvironment as the observation center. The observation center is acenter of the virtual environment picture. The observation centercorresponds to an observation position in the virtual environment. Forexample, the virtual environment picture may be a rectangular picture,an intersection point of rectangular diagonal lines in the virtualpicture may be the observation center. It is assumed that the mastervirtual character is located at the observation center in the virtualenvironment picture, a position of the master virtual character in thevirtual environment may be the observation position. The observationposition is a coordinate position in the virtual environment. When thevirtual environment is a three-dimensional virtual environment, theobservation position is three-dimensional coordinates. For example, ifthe ground in the virtual environment is a horizontal plane and a heightcoordinate of the observation position is 0, the observation positionmay be approximately represented as two-dimensional coordinates on thehorizontal plane.

Different virtual environment pictures may be obtained from the virtualenvironment by using different observation positions as the observationcenter. The first virtual environment picture is a virtual environmentpicture obtained by using the first observation position as theobservation center. A second virtual environment picture is a virtualenvironment picture obtained by using a second observation position asthe observation center. A third virtual environment picture is a virtualenvironment picture obtained by using a third observation position asthe observation center.

For example, the virtual environment may be a three-dimensional virtualenvironment, there may be three coordinate systems in this embodiment.First, a three-dimensional coordinate system is located in thethree-dimensional virtual environment, and a two-dimensional coordinatesystem is located on the display screen of the terminal (namely, atwo-dimensional coordinate system of a two-dimensional picture of thevirtual environment picture). For example, if the ground in the virtualenvironment is a horizontal plane, a two-dimensional coordinate systemmay be further established on the ground in the three-dimensionalvirtual environment. For example, the three-dimensional coordinatesystem in the three-dimensional virtual environment may be referred toas a three-dimensional coordinate system, the two-dimensional coordinatesystem in the virtual environment picture is referred to as a picturecoordinate system, and the two-dimensional coordinate system on theground is referred to as a ground coordinate system. The observationcenter may be a coordinate position in the picture coordinate system, acoordinate position in the three-dimensional coordinate system, or acoordinate position in the ground coordinate system. For example, theobservation position may be located at the center of the virtualenvironment picture, the center has two-dimensional coordinates on thepicture coordinate system, and three-dimensional coordinates of thecenter in the three-dimensional coordinate system and two-dimensionalcoordinates of the center in the ground coordinate system may be furtherobtained by mapping the center into the virtual environment.

For example, the observation center may be a center position in thevirtual environment picture, namely, a position in the picturecoordinate system. The observation position may be a position of theobservation center in the picture coordinate system mapped into thevirtual environment, and may be an actual position in the virtualenvironment, namely, a coordinate position in the ground coordinatesystem or the three-dimensional coordinate system. For example, positiondescription (a first position, a second position, and a third position)of the master virtual character and a target virtual character may be aposition in the three-dimensional coordinate system or the groundcoordinate system, namely, an actual position in the virtual environmentrather than a position in the picture coordinate system.

The master virtual character may be a virtual character controlled bythe client. The client controls the master virtual character to performactivities in the virtual environment according to a received useroperation. For example, the activities of the master virtual characterin the virtual environment include: walking, running, jumping, climbing,going prone, attacking, casting an ability, picking up a prop, andtransmitting a message.

For example, the first position of the master virtual character in thevirtual environment may be equivalent to the first observation positionor another position in the virtual environment. For example, in themethod for displaying a picture of a virtual environment provided inthis embodiment, the virtual environment picture is set to always usethe master virtual character as the observation center in a defaultcase, and the default case refers to situation that the user does notactively perform a viewing angle movement or switching action. Forexample, the viewing angle movement or switching action includes atleast one action of dragging a map to viewing surrounding terrains,pressing and holding a minimap to viewing a terrain of a specificposition, and using another virtual character as the observation centerto observe the virtual environment after the master virtual character isdead. For example, if the first virtual environment picture is a virtualenvironment picture obtained in the default case, the first position ofthe master virtual character is equivalent to the first observationposition, or the first position is located around the first observationposition (for example, if the head of the master virtual character isused as the observation center, a certain deviation may exist betweenthe observation position and the position of the master virtualcharacter); and if the first virtual environment picture has beenactively moved in terms of a viewing angle by the user, the firstposition of the master virtual character may be not equivalent to thefirst observation position, and there is a relatively large distance tothe first observation position.

For example, as shown in (1) in FIG. 3, a first UI displayed on theclient is provided. The first UI includes a first virtual environmentpicture 301, a master virtual character 302 is displayed on the firstvirtual environment picture 301, the first virtual environment picture301 is rectangular, there is an observation center on an intersectionpoint of rectangular diagonal lines, the observation center correspondsto a first observation position 303 in the virtual environment, and themaster virtual character 302 is at a first position. For example, UIcontrols such as a movement control 304, an ability control 305, and anattack control 306 may be further displayed on the first virtualenvironment picture, where the movement control 304 is configured tocontrol the master virtual character to move, the ability control 305 isconfigured to control the master virtual character to cast an ability,and the attack control 306 is configured to control the master virtualcharacter to attack. For example, the UI controls may block a part ofthe first virtual environment picture 301.

Step 202: Display a second virtual environment picture, the secondvirtual environment picture being a picture obtained by observing thevirtual environment by using a second observation position as theobservation center, the second virtual environment picture displayingthe master virtual character at a second position and a target virtualcharacter at a third position in the virtual environment, and the secondobservation position being determined according to the second position.

For example, the second virtual environment picture may be displayed inresponse to that the master virtual character moves to the secondposition; or the second virtual environment picture is displayed inresponse to that the target virtual character moves to the thirdposition.

For example, when the master virtual character moves in the virtualenvironment, the observation center may change along with changes of theposition of the master virtual character, and a field of view on thevirtual environment picture may also change along with changes of theobservation center. When the master virtual character moves to thesecond position, the target virtual character at the third position maybe displayed in the second virtual environment picture obtained by usingthe second observation position as the observation center. That is, thefirst position is not equivalent to the second position, and the firstobservation position is not equivalent to the second observationposition.

For example, the master virtual character may alternatively stay at theoriginal position, that is, the first position is equivalent to thesecond position, and the first observation position is equivalent to thesecond observation position. The target virtual character moves into afield of view of the first virtual environment picture, namely, thetarget virtual character moves to the third position to generate thesecond virtual environment picture.

For example, the target virtual character may be a virtual charactercontrolled by another client, or the target virtual character may be avirtual character automatically controlled by a server or the client.For example, the target virtual character and the master virtualcharacter belong to different camps, namely, the target virtualcharacter and the master virtual character have a hostile relationship.

For example, an effect of completely displaying an enemy virtualcharacter may be achieved by using only an example in which the targetvirtual character is the enemy virtual character in this embodiment. Inother example embodiments, the target virtual character may bealternatively replaced with a target object, a target prop, or a targetterrain, to achieve an effect of completely displaying the targetobject, the target prop, or the target terrain. For example, the targetvirtual character may be alternatively replaced with a turret, namely,when a turret appears in the virtual environment picture, theobservation center is controlled to offset to cause the turret and themaster virtual character to be completely displayed on the virtualenvironment picture.

For example, the first position, the second position, the thirdposition, the first observation position, the second observationposition, and a third observation position may all be coordinatepositions in the virtual environment, namely, coordinate positions inthe ground coordinate system or the three-dimensional coordinate system.

For example, in the default case, the master virtual character may beused as the observation center, namely, the first observation positionand the second observation position are both determined according to theposition of the master virtual character.

For example, in the second virtual environment picture, the targetvirtual character may be located at an edge position of the virtualenvironment picture. For example, in the second virtual environmentpicture, only a part of the target virtual character is displayed. Forexample, the second virtual environment picture only displays a lowerbody of the target virtual character without an upper body, or only amodel of the target virtual character is displayed, and information suchas a health bar and a character nickname located on the head of thetarget virtual character is not displayed. That is, in the secondvirtual environment picture, the target virtual character is not locatedat an optimal observation position (a center region of the picture) forthe user to observe the virtual environment picture, or the secondvirtual environment picture cannot completely display the target virtualcharacter.

For example, as shown in (2) in FIG. 3, the second virtual environmentpicture 309 displays the master virtual character 302 at the secondposition and the target virtual character 308 at the third position, andthe second virtual environment picture 309 is a virtual environmentpicture obtained by using the second observation position 310 as theobservation center.

The second position is the position of the master virtual character inthe virtual environment. For example, if in a process from step 201 tostep 202, the master virtual character does not move in the virtualenvironment, the second position is equivalent to the first position.When the master virtual character is used as the observation center inthe default case, the second observation position being determinedaccording to the second position refers to that: the second observationposition is an observation position determined according to the secondposition of the master virtual character when the master virtualcharacter is used as the observation center. For example, the secondobservation position is an observation position determined by using thesecond position as the observation center.

In an example embodiment, in step 201 and step 202, the master virtualcharacter may be used as the observation center to generate a virtualenvironment picture. That is, the first observation position is anobservation position determined according to the first position of themaster virtual character, and the second observation position is anobservation position determined according to the second position of themaster virtual character.

Since the observation position is a position of a center point (that is,a center point of the virtual environment picture) of the virtualenvironment picture on a two-dimensional picture plane mapped into thethree-dimensional virtual environment, when the master virtual characteris used as the observation center, the master virtual character islocated on the center point of the virtual environment picture, so thatthe first observation position is equivalent to the first position, andthe second observation position is equivalent to the second position.

Step 203: Display a third virtual environment picture in response tothat the second virtual environment picture displays the target virtualcharacter, the third virtual environment picture being a pictureobtained by observing the virtual environment by using a thirdobservation position as the observation center, the third virtualenvironment picture displaying the master virtual character at thesecond position and the target virtual character at the third positionin the virtual environment, and the third observation position beingdetermined according to the second position and the third position.

For example, when the target virtual character appears on the secondvirtual environment picture, to cause the virtual environment picture tobetter display the target virtual character and help the user observethe target virtual character, the client may offset the observationcenter of the virtual environment picture, to cause a virtualenvironment picture obtained after the observation center is offset tobetter display the target virtual character.

For example, when the target virtual character appears on the secondvirtual environment picture, the client redetermines an observationposition according to the position of the target virtual character andthe position of the master virtual character, to cause the mastervirtual character and the target virtual character to be located in thecenter region (an optimal observation region) of the virtual environmentpicture.

For example, as shown in (2) in FIG. 3, the client may move theobservation center from the second observation position 310 toward theupper right corner to the third observation position 307. As shown in(3) in FIG. 3, the third virtual environment picture 311 may be obtainedby using the third observation position 307 as the observation center,and the third virtual environment picture 311 displays the mastervirtual character 302 at the second position and the target virtualcharacter 308 at the third position. For example, a camera mark on thefirst observation position 303, the second observation position 310, andthe third observation position 307 in FIG. 3 is only used for markingthe observation position, and the camera mark is not displayed in anactual virtual environment picture and is not used as evidence.

For example, a manner in which the client determines the thirdobservation position according to the second position and the thirdposition may be implemented in various manners. For example, the clientmay create an offset vector pointing from the second position to thethird position, and obtain the third observation position by adding thesecond observation position to the offset vector. The client mayalternatively determine a midpoint position of the second position andthe third position as the third observation position. The client mayalternatively determine an offset direction according to a relativeposition relationship between the third position and the secondposition, and offset, according to a preset fixed offset distance, thesecond observation position toward the offset direction by the fixedoffset distance to obtain the third observation position.

For example, display of the target virtual character in the thirdvirtual environment picture is easier to observe relative to that in thesecond virtual environment picture. That is, relative to the secondvirtual environment picture, a position at which the target virtualcharacter is displayed in the third virtual environment picture iscloser to the observation center. For example, display of the targetvirtual character in the third virtual environment picture may be morecomplete relative to that in the second virtual environment picture. Forexample, the third virtual environment picture may display informationsuch as an entire body model, the health bar, and the character nicknameof the target virtual character; or the third virtual environmentpicture may display complete special effects that the target virtualcharacter casts an ability.

For example, to help the user observe the virtual environment andprevent the picture from shaking greatly to influence watch experienceof the user, movement of the observation position offsetting from thesecond observation position to the third observation position may beslow. That is, in the process that the observation position offsets fromthe second observation position to the third observation position, aplurality of frames of virtual environment pictures may be furtherdisplayed according to a plurality of intermediate position points bywhich the observation position passes in the offset process. The thirdvirtual environment picture may be any virtual environment picture inthe offset process of the observation position, or may be a virtualenvironment picture when the observation position offsets to a finalposition.

For example, determination of the observation center may include twoparts: an observation position in the default case and an offset. Theobservation position in the default case is determined according to theposition of the master virtual character, and the offset may includeoffsets generated according to a plurality of offset conditions, such asan offset generated for displaying the target virtual character morecompletely provided in this embodiment. For example, the offset mayfurther include offsets generated according to other offset conditions,such as an offset of the observation center that is manually controlledby the user. For example, an example in which an offset generated by thetarget virtual character is a first offset, and the offset of theobservation position that is manually controlled by the user is a secondoffset is used, a final observation position is equivalent to theobservation position in the default case plus the first offset and thesecond offset.

For example, step 202 and step 203 in this embodiment list an idealcase. That is, the master virtual character and the target virtualcharacter stay at the original positions, and only the observationposition offsets according to the offset generated by the target virtualcharacter, to generate different virtual environment pictures. Duringactual application, the observation position offsets quite slowly, theuser may further control the master virtual character and the targetvirtual character to move in this process. The default observationposition may also change due to movement of the master virtualcharacter, the offset may also change due to movement of the targetvirtual character, and the client may determine a real-time observationposition according to this embodiment or a method for determining anobservation position provided in the following embodiment in real time,to further display a corresponding virtual environment picture.

Based on the above, according to the method provided in this embodiment,when an enemy virtual character appears on a virtual environmentpicture, an observation center of the virtual environment picture isredetermined according to positions of the enemy virtual character and amaster virtual character, and a virtual environment picture is obtainedaccording to the new observation center, so that the master virtualcharacter and the enemy virtual character may be completely displayed inthe virtual environment picture, for the user to observe the enemyvirtual character and further control the master virtual character toperform activities, thereby improving the display completeness of theenemy virtual character in the virtual environment picture, andoptimizing a display manner of a battle picture by a client. A morecomplete picture may enable the user to control the master virtualcharacter to attack the enemy virtual character or control the mastervirtual character to dodge the enemy virtual character more accurately.Therefore, the human-computer interaction efficiency that the usercontrols the master virtual character may be further improved.

For example, a method for determining an offset of the observationposition is provided.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. Themethod may be performed by a client run on any terminal in FIG. 1, andthe client is a client supporting a virtual environment. Based on theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, step 203 includes step 2031 tostep 2033.

Step 2031: Determine, in response to that the second virtual environmentpicture displays the target virtual character, an offset of theobservation center according to the third position of the target virtualcharacter.

For example, the client may determine the offset of the observationcenter according to a relative position relationship between the targetvirtual character and the master virtual character. For example, theoffset includes an offset direction and an offset distance. For example,the offset of this embodiment refers to an offset vector, and the thirdobservation position is obtained by adding the second observationposition to the offset.

For example, the client may determine, in response to that the targetvirtual character is located in a target region, the offset of theobservation center according to a position of the third position in thetarget region, the target region being a region determined according tothe second position of the master virtual character.

For example, when the target virtual character may enter the targetregion, the client may control the observation position to offsetaccording to a position of the target virtual character in the targetregion.

The target region may be a region determined by using the secondposition of the master virtual character as a center point. For example,the target region changes along with changes of the position of themaster virtual character. For example, the target region may be acircular region using the second position of the master virtualcharacter as a center point or a rectangular region using the secondposition as a center point. For example, when the target region is acircular region, a radius may be determined in various manners, e.g.,according to a field of view of the virtual environment picture. Forexample, when the field of view of the virtual environment picture is ina shape of a rectangle, the radius of the target region may be ½ of ashort side of the rectangle. For example, when the target region is arectangular region, a length and a width of the rectangle may bedetermined according to the field of view of the virtual environmentpicture. For example, if the field of view of the virtual environmentpicture is rectangular, a length and a width of the target region may beequivalent to a length and a width of the virtual environment picture,or the length and the width of the virtual environment picture may bescaled according to the same ratio as the length and the width of thetarget region. In some implementations, the target region may bealternatively a region in another shape, such as a triangle or atrapezoid. The target region may be alternatively a region in anirregular shape, for example, target regions in different shapes may bedetermined for adapting to display screens in different shapes.

For example, the target region may be located within a field of view ofthe second virtual environment picture, or most region in the targetregion is located within the field of view of the second virtualenvironment picture.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the target region 312 may be a circularregion using the position of the master virtual character 302 as acenter of a circle. When the target virtual character enters the targetregion, the client may obtain the offset of the observation center(observation position) according to the position of the target virtualcharacter in the target region.

For example, the target region may include a region centered on thesecond position, and the target region may be divided into a firstquadrant region, a second quadrant region, a third quadrant region, anda fourth quadrant region by a rectangular coordinate system with anx-axis and a z-axis that is established by using the second position asa coordinate origin.

For example, description is made by using an example in which the targetregion is a circular region or a rectangular region centered on thesecond position in this embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, thetarget region 312 is a circular region using the second position of themaster virtual character 302 as a center of a circle, a rectangularcoordinate system with an x-axis and a z-axis may be established byusing the second position as a coordinate origin, and a first quadrantregion 313 located in a first quadrant, a second quadrant region 314located in a second quadrant, a third quadrant region 315 located in athird quadrant, and a fourth quadrant region 316 located in a fourthquadrant may be obtained.

In response to that the third position is located in a right region ofthe z-axis, a horizontal coordinate of the offset is determined as A, Abeing a positive number, the right region of the z-axis including: apositive semi-axis of the x-axis, the first quadrant region, and thefourth quadrant region. In response to that the third position islocated in a left region of the z-axis, the horizontal coordinate of theoffset is determined as −B, B being a positive number, the left regionof the z-axis including: a negative semi-axis of the x-axis, the secondquadrant region, and the third quadrant region. In response to that thethird position is located in an upper region of the x-axis, alongitudinal coordinate of the offset is determined as C, C being apositive number, the upper region of the x-axis including: a positivesemi-axis of the z-axis, the first quadrant region, and the secondquadrant region. In response to that the third position is located in alower region of the x-axis, the longitudinal coordinate of the offset isdetermined as −D, D being a positive number, the lower region of thex-axis including: a negative semi-axis of the z-axis, the third quadrantregion, and the fourth quadrant region.

For example, A, B, C, and D may be preset values. That is, when thetarget virtual character is located on the right of the master virtualcharacter in the target region, the horizontal coordinate of the offsetmay be A; when the target virtual character is located on the left ofthe master virtual character, the horizontal coordinate of the offsetmay be −B; when the target virtual character is located on the upper ofthe master virtual character, the longitudinal coordinate of the offsetmay be C; and when the target virtual character is located on the lowerof the master virtual character, the longitudinal coordinate of theoffset may be −D. When the target virtual character is located on thex-axis, the longitudinal coordinate of the offset is 0; and when thetarget virtual character is located on the z-axis, the horizontalcoordinate of the offset is 0. For example, when the target virtualcharacter is located in the first quadrant region, the offset is (A, C).

For example, A, B, C, and D may be equal to or not equal to each other,and values thereof may be determined in various manners.

For example, the client may alternatively determine the horizontalcoordinate and the longitudinal coordinate of the offset according tothe second position and the third position. For example, if coordinatesof the second position in the ground coordinate system are (x1, y1), andcoordinates of the third position in the ground coordinate system are(x2, y2), the offset is (x2-x1, y2-y1).

For example, the offset may be alternatively determined according tocoordinates of the target virtual character in the rectangularcoordinate system with an x-axis and a z-axis. For example, if thecoordinates of the target virtual character in the rectangularcoordinate system with an x-axis and a z-axis using the master virtualcharacter as a coordinate origin may be (x2, y2), the offset may be (x2,y2).

For example, when the target virtual character includes a plurality ofvirtual characters, the offset may be alternatively determined accordingto positions of the plurality of virtual characters in the targetregion.

For example, the target virtual character includes at least two virtualcharacters, in response to that at least one of the target virtualcharacters is located in the right region of the z-axis and at least oneof the target virtual characters is located in the left right of thez-axis, the horizontal coordinate of the offset is determined as 0; andin response to that at least one of the target virtual characters islocated in the upper region of the x-axis and at least one of the targetvirtual characters is located in the lower region of the x-axis, thelongitudinal coordinate of the offset is determined as 0.

That is, if the plurality of target virtual characters are all locatedon the right of the master virtual character in the target region, thehorizontal coordinate of the offset is A; if the plurality of targetvirtual characters are all located on the left of the master virtualcharacter, the horizontal coordinate of the offset is −B; and if thetarget virtual characters are both located on the left and the right ofthe master virtual character, the horizontal coordinate of the offset is0. Similarly, if the plurality of target virtual characters are alllocated on the upper of the master virtual character in the targetregion, the longitudinal coordinate of the offset is C; if the pluralityof target virtual characters are all located on the lower of the mastervirtual character, the longitudinal coordinate of the offset is −D; andif the target virtual characters are both located on the upper and thelower of the master virtual character, the longitudinal coordinate ofthe offset is 0.

Step 2032: Calculate the third observation position according to theoffset and the second observation position.

For example, the client obtains the third observation position accordingto the observation position in the current default case and the offset.That is, when the master virtual character is at the second position andthe observation position in the default case is the second observationposition, the client obtains the third observation position by addingthe second observation position to the offset.

Step 2033: Display the third virtual environment picture according tothe third observation position.

The client displays the third virtual environment picture obtained usinga field of view of the third observation position according to the newlyobtained third observation position, to cause the target virtualcharacter to be displayed on the virtual environment picture morecompletely.

Based on the above, according to the method provided in this embodiment,when the target virtual character is displayed on the virtualenvironment picture, an offset may be calculated according to theposition of the target virtual character, and a new observation positionis calculated according to the offset and a current observationposition, to obtain a virtual environment picture according to the newobservation position. Since the current observation position isdetermined according to the position of the master virtual character,according to this method, a new observation position may be determinedaccording to the position of the master virtual character and theposition of the enemy virtual character, to cause the master virtualcharacter and the enemy virtual character to be displayed on the virtualenvironment picture completely.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, a target region maybe determined by using the position of the master virtual character as acenter, and after the enemy virtual character enters the target region,a relative position relationship between the enemy virtual character andthe master virtual character may be determined according to a positionof the enemy virtual character in the target region. In this way, adirection to which the observation center offsets to cause the enemyvirtual character to be displayed on the virtual environment picturecompletely may be determined, and the observation center may becontrolled to offset to the new observation position to obtain a newvirtual environment picture.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, a rectangularcoordinate system may be established in the target region by using theposition of the master virtual character as an origin, to divide thetarget region into a plurality of regions, and the offset of theobservation center is further determined according to the position ofthe enemy virtual character in the target region to cause theobservation center to offset according to the offset.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, when there are aplurality of enemy virtual characters around the master virtualcharacter, the offset may be calculated according to positions of thevirtual characters in the target region. When the enemy virtualcharacters both exist in a positive and negative directions of thex-axis, the observation center does not offset in the horizontaldirection; and when the enemy virtual characters both exist in apositive and negative directions of the z-axis, the observation centerdoes not offset in the longitudinal direction. As a result, each of theenemy virtual characters may be displayed completely in a virtualenvironment picture obtained after offsetting, so that a field of viewof the master virtual character may be better optimized, thereby helpingthe user control the master virtual character to perform activities.

For example, the client may obtain the virtual environment picture byusing a camera model disposed in the virtual environment to photographthe virtual environment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.The method may be performed by a client run on any terminal in FIG. 1,and the client is a client supporting a virtual environment. Based onthe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, step 2033 includes step 2033-1and step 2033-2.

Step 2033-1: Offset the camera model from a second camera position to athird camera position, the second camera position corresponding to thesecond observation position, and the third camera position correspondingto the third observation position.

The first virtual environment picture corresponds to a picture of thevirtual environment acquired by the camera model disposed at a firstcamera position in the virtual environment, and the observation centercorresponds to an intersection point of a ray emitted from a position ofthe camera model in an observation direction and the virtualenvironment. For example, the first virtual environment picture, thesecond virtual environment picture, and the third virtual environmentpicture may be pictures of the virtual environment acquired by thecamera model disposed in the virtual environment.

For example, a camera position may refer to a horizontal coordinateposition of the camera model in the three-dimensional virtualenvironment, or the camera position may refer to a three-dimensionalcoordinate position of the camera model in the three-dimensional virtualenvironment. The horizontal coordinate position may refer to acoordinate position on a two-dimensional plane of the horizontal planein the three-dimensional virtual environment. For example, if thethree-dimensional virtual environment includes an x-y-zthree-dimensional coordinate system, the camera position may bedescribed by using x-z two-dimensional coordinates on the horizontalplane, or the camera position may be described by using x-y-zthree-dimensional coordinates.

The camera model may be a model disposed in the virtual environment andconfigured to obtain a virtual environment picture. For example, thecamera model may be disposed in different manners in the default case.For example, a position of the camera model may be bound to athree-dimensional model (the head or an eye) of the master virtualcharacter, a photographing direction (observation direction) of thecamera model is rotated along with rotation of the head or the eye ofthe master virtual character, and the position of the camera model ismoved along with movement of the position of the master virtualcharacter, so that the virtual environment may be photographed from aviewing angle of the master virtual character, to obtain a virtualenvironment picture of a first-person viewing angle of the mastervirtual character. If the position of the camera model is bound to aposition with a fixed distance and a fixed height behind (the back) themaster virtual character, the photographing direction (observationdirection) of the camera model may be rotated along with rotation of abody of the master virtual character, and the position of the cameramodel may be moved along with movement of the position of the mastervirtual character, so that the virtual environment may be photographedfrom an over-the-shoulder viewing angle of the master virtual character,to obtain a virtual environment picture of the over-the-shoulder viewingangle of the master virtual character. If a relative position betweenthe position of the camera model and the master virtual character isfixed, for example, the camera model may be located at a position thatis ten meters far and ten meters high from the right below (or in a duesouth direction) of the master virtual character, the position of thecamera model may be moved along with movement of the position of themaster virtual character, but the photographing direction may not havechanged along with rotation of the head or the body of the mastervirtual character, so that the virtual environment may be photographedfrom a third-person viewing angle, to obtain a virtual environmentpicture from the third-person viewing angle using the master virtualcharacter as an observed object. For example, the camera model in thisembodiment may photograph the virtual environment from the third-personviewing angle using the master virtual character as an observed objectin the default case. For example, the camera model may be disposed inthe due south direction with 10 meters far and 10 meters high from theposition of the master virtual character, to photograph the mastervirtual character in a sloped down 45-degree observation direction. Ifthe position of the master virtual character is (0, 0, 0), the positionof the camera model may be (0, −10, 10). For example, as shown in FIG.7, no matter which position in the virtual environment the mastervirtual character 302 moves to, a relative position between the cameramodel 323 and the master virtual character 302 may be fixed, and thephotographing direction of the camera model 323 does not change alongwith an orientation of the master virtual character 302. An observationcenter of the camera model 323 may be an intersection point 325 of a rayemitted from the position of the camera model in the observationdirection 324 and the virtual environment, namely, the position of themaster virtual character 302. For example, FIG. 7 is a picture of thecamera model in the virtual environment displayed in a perspectivemanner. Distances from the two camera models 323 to a perspective pointmay be different, so that the photographing directions (observationdirections) of the camera models seen in the picture may be slightlydifferent, but the photographing directions (observation directions) ofthe camera models in the virtual environment are actually the same. FIG.7 is merely used for describing a position relationship between thecamera model and the master virtual character, and the camera model isnot displayed in an actual virtual environment picture.

For example, in the default case, the camera model may follow andphotograph the master virtual character by using the master virtualcharacter as the observation center. However, when the user performsviewing angle movement or conversion, the user may manually change theposition of the camera model in the virtual environment, or the clientmay automatically adjust the position of the camera model according tothe position of the target virtual character, to display a more completetarget virtual character on the client. For example, the method forchanging the camera model to obtain different virtual environmentpictures may be: changing a horizontal coordinate of the camera model,changing a height of the camera model, and changing the observationdirection of the camera model. When the horizontal coordinate of thecamera model is changed, the observation position (the observationcenter in the virtual environment picture) of the camera model may bechanged, so as to obtain a new virtual environment picture. Change ofthe horizontal coordinate may only change the observation position andmay not change a size of a field of view in the virtual environmentpicture. When the height of the camera model is changed, the observationposition (the observation center in the virtual environment picture) ofthe camera model may not be changed, and the size of the field of viewof the camera model is changed. A greater height of the camera model mayindicate a wider field of view and a larger range of virtual environmentdisplayed in the obtained virtual environment picture. When a pitchangle (an angle in a vertical direction) of the camera model is changed,both the observation position and the size of the field of view of thecamera model may be changed, and when a deflection angle (an angle in ahorizontal direction) of the camera model is changed, only theobservation position of the camera model may be changed, and the size ofthe field of view may not be changed.

For example, in this embodiment, different virtual environment picturesmay be obtained by controlling the horizontal coordinate of the cameramodel in the virtual environment, to cause the virtual environmentpicture to display a more complete target virtual character.

For example, the height of the camera model may be further increasedwhile changing the horizontal coordinate of the camera model, to furtherenlarge the field of view in the virtual environment picture, therebydisplaying the target virtual character more completely.

For example, the virtual environment picture may be further caused todisplay a more complete target virtual character by changing at leastone of a focus length, the height, the deflection angle, and the pitchangle of the camera model. For example, the field of view of the cameramodel is enlarged by adjusting the focus length of the camera model, thefield of view of the camera model is enlarged by increasing the heightof the camera model, and the pitch angle and the deflection angle of thecamera model are controlled to offset toward a direction pointed by adirection ability indicator to cause the virtual environment picture todisplay a more complete target virtual character. For example, theclient may use any one or more of the methods for changing the cameramodel provided above to cause the virtual environment picture to displaya more complete target virtual character.

The offset is a distance and a direction moved by the camera model. Theoffset is a distance and a direction that the camera model offsets froma default position, and the default position is the position of thecamera model in the default case. For example, if the camera model isbound to use the master virtual character as a photographed object (usethe position of the master virtual character as the observation center),the default position of the camera model is determined according to theposition of the master virtual character. For example, if a groundcoordinate system is established, the offset is a direction vectorpointing from the default position to an offset position. For example,if the camera model moves from the default position (the second cameraposition) (0, 0) to the third camera position (1, 1), the offset is (1,1).

For example, the client changes the horizontal coordinate position ofthe camera model in the virtual environment according to the offset, tocause the camera model to move from the second camera position to thethird camera position. For example, the client determines a destinationposition (the third camera position) of this offsetting of the cameramodel according to the offset. For example, the second camera positionmay be the default position of the camera model, or may be a position ofthe camera model after one offsetting has been occurred. If the secondcamera position is a position of the camera model after offsetting hasbeen occurred, a total offset of the camera model offsetting to thethird camera position is equal to a sum of a first offset of the cameramodel offsetting from the default position to the second camera positionand a second offset offsetting from the second camera position to thethird camera position.

The first virtual environment picture is acquired by the camera model atthe first camera position, and an observation center thereof is thefirst observation position. The second virtual environment picture isacquired by the camera model at the second camera position, and anobservation center thereof is the second observation position. The thirdvirtual environment picture is acquired by the camera model at the thirdcamera position, and an observation center thereof is the thirdobservation position.

For example, an offset destination of the camera model may be determinedaccording to the offset, and the camera model may then be controlled tomove slowly from an offset starting point to the offset destinationaccording to a preset movement manner, to cause virtual environmentpictures displayed on the client to be continuous movement picturesrather than suddenly jumped pictures.

For example, the camera model offsets from the second camera position tothe third camera position in a specified movement manner, and thespecified movement manner may include any one of uniform motion,difference-based motion, and smooth damping motion.

For example, to cause the virtual environment pictures displayed on theclient to be continuous in an offsetting process of the camera model,the camera model does not directly jump from the second camera positionto the third camera position, the camera model may pass through aplurality of frames of pictures when moving from the second cameraposition to the third camera position, and the client may calculate aposition to which the camera model is to move in each frame of pictureby using different movement manners, to obtain the frame of pictureaccording to the camera model at the position.

For example, the movement manner may be a uniform motion, and theuniform motion may refer to a case that the camera model is controlledto move the third camera position at a constant speed. For example, ifthe offset of the camera model is 10 meters and the client needs tocontrol the camera model to move to a target position after 100 framesof pictures, the camera model may need to move 0.1 meter in each frameof picture.

For example, the movement manner may be alternatively difference-basedmotion. The difference-based motion determines the position of thecamera model in each frame of picture according to a current position,the target position, and a movement ratio of the camera model. Forexample, if the movement ratio is set to 0.1, the client may calculate adifference between a position of the camera model in the last frame ofpicture and the target position, and then controls the camera model tomove toward the target position by a distance that is 0.1 times of thedifference. If the target position is 10 and the current position is 0,the camera model may move by 10*0.1=1 in a next frame to reach aposition of 1, moves by (10−1)*0.1=0.9 in still next frame to reach aposition of 1.9, and moves by (10−1.9)*0.1=0.81 in yet next frame toreach a position of 2.71. By performing movement in this manner, thecamera model can never reach the target position and can only infinitelyapproach the target position. Therefore, the movement ratio may be setto change from 0 to 1, and the camera model may move to the targetposition when the movement ratio is set to 1. The difference-basedmotion may be based on determining a movement distance according to adistance difference and a movement ratio.

For example, the movement manner may be alternatively smooth dampingmotion. The smooth damping motion may be determined based on a movementdistance according to a given movement time and a smooth function. Thesmooth function may be a black box function. The smooth function is afunction similar to a spring damper.

Step 2033-2: Display the third virtual environment picture in responseto that the camera model acquires the third virtual environment pictureat the third camera position.

For example, after the camera model moves to the third camera position,the client may acquire a picture of the virtual environment by using thecamera model to obtain the third virtual environment picture.

For example, when the target virtual character approaches the mastervirtual character, to prevent the virtual environment picture fromshaking greatly due to the offset of the observation center andinfluencing user's watching when the target virtual character and themaster virtual character perform a close quarter battle, the client mayfurther stop the offset of the observation center when the targetvirtual character approaches the master virtual character, and as shownin FIG. 8, step 204 is further included after step 203.

Step 204: Stop offsetting the camera model in response to that thetarget virtual character is located in a dogfight region, the dogfightregion being determined according to the second position of the mastervirtual character.

For example, the dogfight region may be a region close to the mastervirtual character, the dogfight region is a region range determined byusing the position of the master virtual character as a center, and ashape of the dogfight region may be random such as a circle or a square.For example, the dogfight region may be a circular region using theposition of the master virtual character as a center of a circle. Forexample, the dogfight region may be located in the target region, andthe target region includes the dogfight region. That is, the dogfightregion may be both a dogfight region and a target region.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a dogfight region 317 using the secondposition of the master virtual character 302 as a center of a circle maybe included in the target region 312.

For example, when the target virtual character may be located in thetarget region, the client may calculate an offset of the observationcenter according to a position of the target virtual character in thetarget region, and control the camera model to offset to a target cameraposition (the third camera position) according to the offset. That is,the camera model may move continuously and slowly. When the targetvirtual character enters the dogfight region, to ensure the stability ofthe virtual environment picture, no matter whether the camera modelmoves to the target camera position, the camera model may immediatelystop offsetting. That is, the camera model may not offset along with theposition of the target virtual character in the target region, andalways keep an existing offset result unchanged.

For example, stopping offsetting the camera model may refer to that: thecamera model no longer generates a new offset according to the positionof the target virtual character, but the default camera position of thecamera model may still change along with changes of the position of themaster virtual character, and a final position of the camera model maybe the default camera position plus an offset that has been generated bythe current camera model.

For example, according to the position of the target virtual characterin the target region, the camera model may offset from the defaultcamera position (the second camera position) (0, 0) to the third cameraposition (3, 3). When the camera model offsets to a position of (2, 2),the target virtual character may enter the dogfight region, the cameramodel may stop offsetting and may no longer offset to the third cameraposition, and the offset of the camera model in this case may be (2,2)−(0, 0)=(2, 2). If the position of the master virtual characterchanges and the default camera position changes from (0, 0) to (5, 5),the position of the camera model in this case may be (5, 5)+(2, 2)=(7,7). That is, the camera model may correspondingly move to a position of(7, 7) according to the movement of the position of the master virtualcharacter.

Based on the above, according to the method of this embodiment, themovement of the observation center may be implemented by moving thecamera model, and the observation center may be moved from the secondobservation position to the third observation position by moving thecamera model from the second camera position to the third cameraposition, to cause the camera model to perform photographing by usingthe third observation position at the third camera position, to obtainthe third virtual environment picture.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, the movement of thecamera model may be a smooth process, and the camera model may be movedin a plurality of movement manners.

According to the method provided in this embodiment, when a distancebetween the enemy virtual character and the master virtual character isrelatively close, offsetting of the camera model may be stoppedimmediately. That is, offsetting of the observation center may bestopped, to prevent the virtual environment picture from shaking greatlydue to the offsetting of the observation center and influencing the userto control the master virtual character to perform a close quarterbattle.

For example, a method for setting the offset to 0 is further providedwhen the target virtual character no longer exists in the target region.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.The method may be performed by a client run on any terminal in FIG. 1,and the client may be a client supporting a virtual environment. Basedon the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, after step 2033, step 205to step 208 are further included.

Step 205: Time a buffer duration in response that the target virtualcharacter does not exist in the target region.

For example, after the observation center offsets since the targetvirtual character enters the target region, the client may periodicallydetect whether the target virtual character exists in the target region,and when the target virtual character does not exist in the targetregion, the client may perform buffer timing (time a buffer duration).

Step 206: Set the offset of the observation center to 0 in response tothat the buffer duration reaches a time threshold.

For example, if the target virtual character does not exist in thetarget region in a period of time (the time threshold), the client mayset the offset of the observation center to 0, to cause the camera modelto return to a camera position in the default case, so as to cause theobservation center to return a default observation position again.

For example, if after the client times a buffer duration and before thebuffer duration reaches the time threshold, the target virtual characterappears in the target region again, the client may stop buffer timing,and calculate the offset of the observation center again according tothe position of the target virtual character to control the observationcenter to offset.

Step 207: Calculate a fourth observation position according to theoffset and a position of the master virtual character.

For example, since the offset has been set to 0, the fourth observationposition may be a default observation position corresponding to acurrent position of the master virtual character. The client moves thecamera model back to a fourth camera position corresponding to thefourth observation position, to cause the camera model to obtain thefourth virtual environment picture by using the fourth observationposition as the observation center.

Step 208: Display a fourth virtual environment picture according to thefourth observation position, the fourth virtual environment picturedisplaying the master virtual character.

For example, the fourth virtual environment picture no longer includesthe target virtual character.

Based on the above, according to the method provided in this embodiment,when the enemy virtual character does not exist in the target region,buffer timing of camera offsetting may be performed, and when the enemyvirtual character does not exist in the target region in a period oftime, the offset of a lens is set to 0, and the lens may be controlledto return a normal position to display a virtual environment picturenormally.

For example, an exemplary embodiment in which the method for displayinga picture of a virtual environment provided in this application isapplicable to a MOBA game is provided.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.The method may be performed by a client run on any terminal in FIG. 1,and the client may be a client supporting a virtual environment. Themethod includes the following steps.

Step 401: The client determines whether an own hero (a master virtualcharacter) moves.

For example, when the master virtual character moves, the client mayperform step 402, to detect whether there is an enemy (a target virtualcharacter) in a dogfight region of the master virtual character.

Step 402: The client detects whether an enemy exists in a dogfightregion, and performs step 403 if an enemy exists; otherwise, performsstep 404.

Step 403: The client controls a lens (a camera model) to stopoffsetting.

For example, if the target virtual character exists in the dogfightregion of the master virtual character, the client may control the lensto stop offsetting, to prevent shaking of the virtual environmentpicture from influencing user's observation.

Step 404: The client determines whether an enemy exists in a validregion (a target region), and performs step 405 if an enemy exists;otherwise, performs step 408,

Step 405: The client traverses an enemy set in the valid region todetermine an offset.

For example, the client may determine whether there are enemies in botha positive direction and a negative direction of a z-axis of the targetregion. If the enemies exist in both the two directions, a value of theoffset on a longitudinal axis may be 0; if the enemies do not exist inboth the two directions, the client may further determine whether theenemies exist in the positive direction of the z-axis; and if theenemies exist in the positive direction, the value of the offset on thelongitudinal axis may be P, and otherwise, the value of the offset onthe longitudinal axis may be −P. For example, the client may determinewhether there are enemies in both a positive direction and a negativedirection of an x-axis of the target region, if the enemies exist inboth the two directions, a value of the offset on a horizontal axis maybe 0. If the enemies do not exist in both the two directions, the clientmay further determine whether the enemies exist in the positivedirection of the x-axis, and if the enemies exist in the positivedirection, the value of the offset on the horizontal axis may be P, andotherwise, the value of the offset on the horizontal axis may be −P,where P is any real number.

Step 406: The client determines whether the traverse ends, and performsstep 407 if the traverse ends; otherwise, performs step 405.

Step 407: The client sets a target offset (offset).

The client controls the camera model to offset according to the targetoffset.

Step 408: The client starts buffer timing.

For example, if no enemy exists in the valid region, the client maystart buffer timing, and if no enemy exists in the valid region in aperiod of time, the client may set the offset to 0.

Step 409: The client determines whether the buffer timing ends, andperforms step 410 if the buffer timing ends; otherwise, performs step404.

For example, the client may continuously detect whether an enemy appearsin the valid region in the buffer timing process, and if no enemyappears all the time, step 410 may be performed.

Step 410: The client sets the offset to 0.

For example, the client may set the offset to 0, and control the cameramodel to return a default camera position.

Based on the above, according to the method provided in this embodiment,when the master virtual character moves, detection of whether an enemyappears in the valid region and the dogfight region may be started, andwhen an enemy appears in the valid region, the lends may be controlledto offset according to a position of the enemy in the valid region, todisplay a complete enemy on the virtual environment picture. Buffertiming is performed when no enemy exists in the target region, and whenno enemy appears in the valid region all the time after the buffertiming is ended, the offset may be set to 0, to control the lens toreturn a default position, and the master virtual character may still beused as the observation center of the virtual environment picture.

The foregoing method is described based on a game application scenarioin the foregoing embodiments, and the following is an exemplarydescription of the foregoing method based on a military simulationapplication scenario.

A simulation technology refers to a model technology in which a systembehavior or process is reflected by using software and hardware throughan experiment of simulating a real world.

A military simulation program refers to a program specially constructedfor military application by using the simulation technology, whichperforms quantitative analysis on battle elements such as sea, land, andair, weapon equipment performance, battle action, and the like, toaccurately simulate a battlefield environment, and present a battlefieldstatus, thereby achieving battle system evaluation and decision aids.

In an example, soldiers set up a virtual battlefield on a terminal onwhich the military simulation program is located, and fight in teams. Asoldier controls the virtual object in the virtual battlefieldenvironment to perform at least one operation of standing, crouching,sitting, going supine, going prone, lying on the side, walking, running,climbing, driving, shooting, throwing, attacking, getting hurt,detecting, close combat and other actions in the virtual battlefieldenvironment. The virtual battlefield environment may include at leastone natural form of a plain, a mountain, a plateau, a basin, a desert, ariver, a lake, a sea, and vegetation, and a place form such as abuilding, a vehicle, a ruin, and a training ground. The virtual objectmay include a virtual figure, a virtual animal, a cartoon figure, or thelike. Each virtual object owns a shape and a volume in athree-dimensional virtual environment, and occupies some space in thethree-dimensional virtual environment.

Based on the above, in an example, a soldier A may control a virtualobject a to move in the virtual environment, when a soldier B controls avirtual object b to enters a target region of the virtual object a, aclient of the soldier A controls to offset the observation center todisplay the complete virtual object b on the client of the soldier A, tohelp the soldier A observe trends of the virtual object b to furtherattack or defend against the virtual object.

Based on the above, in this embodiment, the method for displaying apicture of a virtual environment is applicable to a military simulationprogram, so that the soldier may better observe an enemy, and thesoldier obtains better training.

The following describes apparatus embodiments of this application. Fordetails not described in detail in the apparatus embodiments, referencemay be made to the foregoing method embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an apparatus for displaying a picture of avirtual environment according to an exemplary embodiment of thisapplication. The apparatus includes:

a display module 501, configured to display a first virtual environmentpicture, the first virtual environment picture being a picture obtainedby observing the virtual environment by using a first observationposition as an observation center, the first virtual environment picturedisplaying a master virtual character at a first position in the virtualenvironment, and the first observation position being determinedaccording to the first position;

the display module 501 being further configured to display a secondvirtual environment picture, the second virtual environment picturebeing a picture obtained by observing the virtual environment by using asecond observation position as the observation center, the secondvirtual environment picture displaying the master virtual character at asecond position and a target virtual character at a third position inthe virtual environment, and the second observation position beingdetermined according to the second position; and

the display module 501 being further configured to display a thirdvirtual environment picture in response to that the second virtualenvironment picture displays the target virtual character, the thirdvirtual environment picture being a picture obtained by observing thevirtual environment by using a third observation position as theobservation center, the third virtual environment picture displaying themaster virtual character at the second position and the target virtualcharacter at the third position in the virtual environment, and thethird observation position being determined according to the secondposition and the third position.

In an optional embodiment, the apparatus further includes:

a determining module 502, configured to determine, in response to thatthe second virtual environment picture displays the target virtualcharacter, an offset of the observation center according to the thirdposition of the target virtual character;

a calculation module 503, configured to calculate the third observationposition according to the offset and the second observation position;and

the display module 501 being further configured to display the thirdvirtual environment picture according to the third observation position.

In an optional embodiment, the determining module 502 is furtherconfigured to determine, in response to that the target virtualcharacter is located in a target region, the offset of the observationcenter according to a position of the third position in the targetregion, the target region being a region determined according to thesecond position of the master virtual character.

In an optional embodiment, the target region includes a region centeredon the second position, and the target region is divided into a firstquadrant region, a second quadrant region, a third quadrant region, anda fourth quadrant region by a rectangular coordinate system with anx-axis and a z-axis that is established by using the second position asa coordinate origin;

the determining module 502 is further configured to determine, inresponse to that the third position is located in a right region of thez-axis, a horizontal coordinate of the offset as A, A being a positivenumber, the right region of the z-axis including: a positive semi-axisof the x-axis, the first quadrant region, and the fourth quadrantregion;

the determining module 502 is further configured to determine, inresponse to that the third position is located in a left region of thez-axis, the horizontal coordinate of the offset as −B, B being apositive number, the left region of the z-axis including: a negativesemi-axis of the x-axis, the second quadrant region, and the thirdquadrant region;

the determining module 502 is further configured to determine, inresponse to that the third position is located in an upper region of thex-axis, a longitudinal coordinate of the offset as C, C being a positivenumber, the upper region of the x-axis including: a positive semi-axisof the z-axis, the first quadrant region, and the second quadrantregion; and

the determining module 502 is further configured to determine, inresponse to that the third position is located in a lower region of thex-axis, the longitudinal coordinate of the offset as −D, D being apositive number, the lower region of the x-axis including: a negativesemi-axis of the z-axis, the third quadrant region, and the fourthquadrant region.

In an optional embodiment, the target virtual character may include atleast two virtual characters; and

the determining module 502 is further configured to determine thehorizontal coordinate of the offset as 0 in response to that at leastone of the target virtual characters is located in the right region ofthe z-axis and at least one of the target virtual characters is locatedin the left region of the z-axis.

In an optional embodiment, the target virtual character may include atleast two virtual characters; and

the determining module 502 is further configured to determine thelongitudinal coordinate of the offset as 0 in response to that at leastone of the target virtual characters is located in the upper region ofthe x-axis and at least one of the target virtual characters is locatedin the lower region of the x-axis.

In an example embodiment, the first virtual environment picture may be apicture of the virtual environment acquired by a camera model disposedat a first camera position in the virtual environment, and theobservation center is an intersection point of a ray emitted from aposition of the camera model in an observation direction and the virtualenvironment; and the apparatus may further include:

an offsetting module 504, configured to offset the camera model from asecond camera position to a third camera position, the second cameraposition corresponding to the second observation position, and the thirdcamera position corresponding to the third observation position; and

the display module 501 being further configured to display the thirdvirtual environment picture in response to that the camera modelacquires the third virtual environment picture at the third cameraposition.

In an example embodiment, the offsetting module 504 may be furtherconfigured to offset the camera model from the second camera position tothe third camera position in a specified movement manner, the specifiedmovement manner including any one of uniform motion, differentialmotion, and smooth damping motion.

In an example embodiment, the offsetting module 504 is furtherconfigured to stop offsetting the camera model in response to that thetarget virtual character is located in a dogfight region, the dogfightregion being determined according to the second position of the mastervirtual character.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus may further include:

a timing module 505, configured to time a buffer duration in responsethat the target virtual character does not exist in the target region;

the determining module 502 being configured to set the offset of theobservation center to 0 in response to that the buffer duration reachesa time threshold;

the calculation module 503 being configured to calculate a fourthobservation position according to the offset and a position of themaster virtual character; and

the display module 501 being further configured to display a fourthvirtual environment picture according to the fourth observationposition, the fourth virtual environment picture displaying the mastervirtual character.

In an example embodiment, the display module 501 may be s furtherconfigured to display the second virtual environment picture in responseto that the master virtual character moves to the second position;

or

the display module 501 may be further configured to display the secondvirtual environment picture in response to that the target virtualcharacter moves to the third position.

The apparatus for displaying a picture of a virtual environment providedin the foregoing embodiments is illustrated with an example of divisionof the foregoing functional modules. During actual application, thefunctions may be allocated to and completed by different functionalmodules according to requirements, that is, the internal structure ofthe device is divided into different functional modules, to implementall or some of the functions described above. In addition, the apparatusfor displaying a picture of a virtual environment provided in theforegoing embodiment belongs to the same concept as the methodembodiment for displaying a picture of a virtual environment. For aspecific implementation process of the apparatus, refer to the methodembodiment. Details are not described herein again.

This application further provides a terminal, including a processor anda memory, the memory storing at least one instruction, the at least oneinstruction being loaded and executed by the processor to implement themethod for displaying a picture of a virtual environment according tothe foregoing method embodiments. The terminal may be a terminalprovided in FIG. 13 below.

FIG. 13 shows a structural block diagram of a terminal 1300 according toan exemplary embodiment of this application. The terminal 1300 may be asmartphone, a tablet computer, a Moving Picture Experts Group AudioLayer III (MP3) player, a Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer IV(MP4) player, a notebook computer, or a desktop computer. The terminal1300 may also be referred to as another name such as user equipment, aportable terminal, a laptop terminal, or a desktop terminal.

Generally, the terminal 1300 includes a processor 1301 a memory 1302,and a display screen 1305.

The processor 1301 may include one or more processing cores, forexample, a 4-core processor or an 8-core processor. The processor 1301may be implemented in at least one hardware form of a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and aprogrammable logic array (PLA). The processor 1301 may alternativelyinclude a main processor and a coprocessor. The main processor is aprocessor configured to process data in an active state, also referredto as a central processing unit (CPU). The coprocessor is a low-powerprocessor configured to process data in a standby state. In someembodiments, the processor 1301 may be integrated with a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU). The GPU is configured to render and draw contentthat needs to be displayed on a display screen. In some embodiments, theprocessor 1301 may further include an artificial intelligence (AI)processor. The AI processor is configured to process a computingoperation related to machine learning.

The memory 1302 may include one or more computer-readable storage media.The computer-readable storage medium may be non-transient. The memory1302 may further include a high-speed random access memory and anon-volatile memory, for example, one or more magnetic disk storagedevices or flash storage devices. In some embodiments, a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium in the memory 1302 is configured tostore at least one instruction, the at least one instruction beingconfigured to be executed by the processor 1301 to implement the methodfor displaying a picture of a virtual environment provided in the methodembodiments of this application.

The display screen 1305 may be configured to display a user interface(UI). The UI may include a graph, a text, an icon, a video, and anycombination thereof. When the display screen 1305 is a touch displayscreen, the display screen 1305 is further capable of acquiring touchsignals on or above a surface of the display screen 1305. The touchsignal may be used as a control signal to be inputted to the processor1301 for processing. In this case, the display screen 1305 may befurther configured to provide a virtual button and/or a virtual keyboardthat are/is also referred to as a soft button and/or a soft keyboard. Insome embodiments, there may be one display screen 1305 disposed on afront panel of the terminal 1300. In some other embodiments, there maybe at least two display screens 1305 respectively disposed on differentsurfaces of the terminal 1300 or designed in a foldable shape. In stillsome other embodiments, the display screen 1305 may be a flexibledisplay screen disposed on a curved surface or a folded surface of theterminal 1300. Even, the display screen 1305 may further be set to havea non-rectangular irregular graph, that is, a special-shaped screen. Thedisplay screen 1305 may be prepared by using materials such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or thelike.

A person skilled in the art may understand that the structure shown inFIG. 13 does not constitute a limitation to the terminal 1300, and theterminal may include more components or fewer components than thoseshown in the figure, or some components may be combined, or a differentcomponent deployment may be used.

The memory may further include one or more programs. The one or moreprograms are stored in the memory and include steps for performing themethod for displaying a picture of a virtual environment provided in theembodiments of this application.

This application may provide a computer-readable storage medium, storingat least one instruction, the at least one instruction being loaded andexecuted by a processor to implement the method for displaying a pictureof a virtual environment provided in the foregoing method embodiments.

This application may further provide a computer program product or acomputer program. The computer program product or the computer programincludes computer instructions, and the computer instructions are storedin a computer-readable storage medium. A processor of a computer devicereads the computer instructions from the computer-readable storagemedium, and executes the computer instructions to cause the computerdevice to perform the method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment provided in the foregoing optional implementations.

The sequence numbers of the foregoing embodiments of this applicationare merely for description purpose, and are not intended to indicate thepreference among the embodiments.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some ofthe steps of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented by hardware,or may be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. Theprogram may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storagemedium may be: a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic disk, or an opticaldisc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely optional embodiments of thisapplication, but are not intended to limit this application. Anymodification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within thespirit and principle of this application shall fall within theprotection scope of this application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment, performed by a computer device, the method comprising:displaying a first virtual environment picture, the first virtualenvironment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtualenvironment by using a first observation position as an observationcenter, the first virtual environment picture displaying a mastervirtual character at a first position in the virtual environment, andthe first observation position being determined according to the firstposition; displaying a second virtual environment picture, the secondvirtual environment picture being a picture obtained by observing thevirtual environment by using a second observation position as theobservation center, the second virtual environment picture displayingthe master virtual character at a second position and a target virtualcharacter at a third position in the virtual environment, and the secondobservation position being determined according to the second position;and displaying a third virtual environment picture in response to thatthe second virtual environment picture displays the target virtualcharacter, the third virtual environment picture being a pictureobtained by observing the virtual environment by using a thirdobservation position as the observation center, the third virtualenvironment picture displaying the master virtual character at thesecond position and the target virtual character at the third positionin the virtual environment, and the third observation position beingdetermined according to the second position and the third position. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the third virtualenvironment picture in response to that the second virtual environmentpicture displays the target virtual character comprises: determining, inresponse to that the second virtual environment picture displays thetarget virtual character, an offset of the observation center accordingto the third position of the target virtual character; calculating thethird observation position according to the offset and the secondobservation position; and displaying the third virtual environmentpicture according to the third observation position.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein determining, in response to that thesecond virtual environment picture displays the target virtualcharacter, the offset of the observation center according to the thirdposition of the target virtual character comprises: determining, inresponse to that the target virtual character is located in a targetregion, the offset of the observation center according to a targetposition of the third position in the target region, the target regionbeing a region determined according to the second position of the mastervirtual character.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein thetarget region comprises a region centered on the second position, andthe target region is divided into a first quadrant region, a secondquadrant region, a third quadrant region, and a fourth quadrant regionby a rectangular coordinate system with an x-axis and a z-axis that isestablished by using the second position as a coordinate origin; anddetermining, in response to that the target virtual character is locatedin the target region, the offset of the observation center according tothe target position of the third position in the target regioncomprises: determining, in response to that the third position islocated in a right region of the z-axis, a horizontal coordinate of theoffset as A, A being a positive number, the right region of the z-axiscomprising: a positive semi-axis of the x-axis, the first quadrantregion, and the fourth quadrant region; determining, in response to thatthe third position is located in a left region of the z-axis, thehorizontal coordinate of the offset as −B, B being a positive number,the left region of the z-axis comprising a negative semi-axis of thex-axis, the second quadrant region, and the third quadrant region;determining, in response to that the third position is located in anupper region of the x-axis, a longitudinal coordinate of the offset asC, C being a positive number, the upper region of the x-axis comprisinga positive semi-axis of the z-axis, the first quadrant region, and thesecond quadrant region; and determining, in response to that the thirdposition is located in a lower region of the x-axis, the longitudinalcoordinate of the offset as −D, D being a positive number, the lowerregion of the x-axis comprising a negative semi-axis of the z-axis, thethird quadrant region, and the fourth quadrant region.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the target virtual character comprises atleast two virtual characters; and determining, in response to that thethird position is located in the right region of the z-axis, ahorizontal coordinate of the offset as A; and determining, in responseto that the third position is located in the left region of the z-axis,the horizontal coordinate of the offset as −B comprises: determining thehorizontal coordinate of the offset as 0 in response to that at leastone of the target virtual characters is located in the right region ofthe z-axis and at least one of the target virtual characters is locatedin the left region of the z-axis.
 6. The method according to claim 4,wherein the target virtual character comprises at least two virtualcharacters; and determining, in response to that the third position islocated in an upper region of the x-axis, the longitudinal coordinate ofthe offset as C; and determining, in response to that the third positionis located in the lower region of the x-axis, the longitudinalcoordinate of the offset as −D comprises: determining the longitudinalcoordinate of the offset as 0 in response to that at least one of thetarget virtual characters is located in the upper region of the x-axisand at least one of the target virtual characters is located in thelower region of the x-axis.
 7. The method according to claim 2, whereinthe first virtual environment picture comprises a picture of the virtualenvironment acquired by a camera model disposed at a first cameraposition in the virtual environment, and the observation centercomprises an intersection point of a ray emitted from a position of thecamera model in an observation direction and the virtual environment;and displaying the third virtual environment picture according to thethird observation position comprises: offsetting the camera model from asecond camera position to a third camera position, the second cameraposition corresponding to the second observation position, and the thirdcamera position corresponding to the third observation position; anddisplaying the third virtual environment picture in response to that thecamera model acquires the third virtual environment picture at the thirdcamera position.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein offsettingthe camera model from the second camera position to the third cameraposition comprises: offsetting the camera model from the second cameraposition to the third camera position in a specified movement manner,the specified movement manner comprising any one of uniform motion,difference-based motion, and smooth damping motion.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises: stoppingoffsetting the camera model in response to that the target virtualcharacter is located in a dogfight region, the dogfight region beingdetermined according to the second position of the master virtualcharacter.
 10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the methodfurther comprises: timing a buffer duration in response that the targetvirtual character does not exist in the target region; setting theoffset of the observation center to 0 in response to that the bufferduration reaches a time threshold; calculating a fourth observationposition according to the offset and a position of the master virtualcharacter; and displaying a fourth virtual environment picture accordingto the fourth observation position, the fourth virtual environmentpicture displaying the master virtual character.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein displaying the second virtual environmentpicture comprises: displaying the second virtual environment picture inresponse to that the master virtual character moves to the secondposition; or displaying the second virtual environment picture inresponse to that the target virtual character moves to the thirdposition.
 12. An apparatus for displaying a picture of a virtualenvironment, comprising a memory for storing computer instructions and aprocessor in communication with the memory and configured to execute thecomputer instructions to: display a first virtual environment picture,the first virtual environment picture being a picture obtained byobserving the virtual environment by using a first observation positionas an observation center, the first virtual environment picturedisplaying a master virtual character at a first position in the virtualenvironment, and the first observation position being determinedaccording to the first position; display a second virtual environmentpicture, the second virtual environment picture being a picture obtainedby observing the virtual environment by using a second observationposition as the observation center, the second virtual environmentpicture displaying the master virtual character at a second position anda target virtual character at a third position in the virtualenvironment, and the second observation position being determinedaccording to the second position; and display a third virtualenvironment picture in response to that the second virtual environmentpicture displays the target virtual character, the third virtualenvironment picture being a picture obtained by observing the virtualenvironment by using a third observation position as the observationcenter, the third virtual environment picture displaying the mastervirtual character at the second position and the target virtualcharacter at the third position in the virtual environment, and thethird observation position being determined according to the secondposition and the third position.
 13. The apparatus according to claim12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computerinstructions to: determine, in response to that the second virtualenvironment picture displays the target virtual character, an offset ofthe observation center according to the third position of the targetvirtual character; calculate the third observation position according tothe offset and the second observation position; and display the thirdvirtual environment picture according to the third observation position.14. The apparatus according to claim 13, where the processor is furtherconfigured to execute the computer instructions to determine the offsetof the observation center by determining, in response to that the targetvirtual character is located in a target region, the offset of theobservation center according to a position of the third position in thetarget region, the target region being a region determined according tothe second position of the master virtual character.
 15. The apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the target region comprises a regioncentered on the second position, and the target region is divided into afirst quadrant region, a second quadrant region, a third quadrantregion, and a fourth quadrant region by a rectangular coordinate systemwith an x-axis and a z-axis that is established by using the secondposition as a coordinate origin; the processor is further configured toexecute the computer instructions to: determine, in response to that thethird position is located in a right region of the z-axis, a horizontalcoordinate of the offset as A, A being a positive number, the rightregion of the z-axis comprising: a positive semi-axis of the x-axis, thefirst quadrant region, and the fourth quadrant region; determine, inresponse to that the third position is located in a left region of thez-axis, the horizontal coordinate of the offset as −B, B being apositive number, the left region of the z-axis comprising: a negativesemi-axis of the x-axis, the second quadrant region, and the thirdquadrant region; determine, in response to that the third position islocated in an upper region of the x-axis, a longitudinal coordinate ofthe offset as C, C being a positive number, the upper region of thex-axis comprising: a positive semi-axis of the z-axis, the firstquadrant region, and the second quadrant region; and determine, inresponse to that the third position is located in a lower region of thex-axis, the longitudinal coordinate of the offset as −D, D being apositive number, the lower region of the x-axis comprising: a negativesemi-axis of the z-axis, the third quadrant region, and the fourthquadrant region.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein thetarget virtual character comprises at least two virtual characters; andprocessor is further configured to execute the computer instructions todetermine the horizontal coordinate of the offset as 0 in response tothat at least one of the target virtual characters is located in theright region of the z-axis and at least one of the target virtualcharacters is located in the left region of the z-axis.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the target virtual charactercomprises at least two virtual characters; and processor is furtherconfigured to execute the computer instructions to determine thelongitudinal coordinate of the offset as 0 in response to that at leastone of the target virtual characters is located in the upper region ofthe x-axis and at least one of the target virtual characters is locatedin the lower region of the x-axis.
 18. A computer-readable storagemedium, storing at least one instruction, at least one program, a codeset, or an instruction set, the at least one instruction, the at leastone program, the code set, or the instruction set being loaded andexecuted by a processor to implement the method for displaying a pictureof a virtual environment according to claim
 1. 19. A computer-readablestorage medium, storing at least one instruction, at least one program,a code set, or an instruction set, the at least one instruction, the atleast one program, the code set, or the instruction set being loaded andexecuted by a processor to implement the method for displaying a pictureof a virtual environment according to claim
 2. 20. A computer programproduct or a computer program, the computer program product or thecomputer program comprising computer instructions, the computerinstructions being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, aprocessor of a computer device reading the computer instructions fromthe computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executing thecomputer instructions to cause the computer device to perform the methodfor displaying a picture of a virtual environment according to claim 1.